Trump Administration Allows Killing of Threatened Species

The administration of President Donald Trump has taken a major step in reinterpreting the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. A new policy issued on Friday (17/7) local time significantly weakens protections for plants and animals on the brink of extinction. One of the most crucial changes is the revocation of a blanket rule in place since 1975. This rule previously granted species listed as ‘threatened’ the same protections as those listed as ‘endangered’, including prohibitions on killing, trapping, or harassing them illegally. With the repeal, American citizens are technically still permitted to hunt or disturb species newly designated as threatened. The immediate impact is likely to be felt by the Florida manatee and pygmy rabbits, which are currently undergoing status evaluations. The change only applies to species newly classified as threatened; those previously listed will retain their protections. However, going forward, new protections will only be granted on a case-by-case basis rather than automatically through a blanket rule. In addition to revoking the protection rule, the Fish and Wildlife Service also issued regulations requiring the agency to consider economic impacts when designating an area as critical habitat. Previously, the agency had the discretion to weigh or disregard economic concerns in favour of species survival. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that the changes were necessary to strengthen American energy independence and ensure federal actions align with the law. ‘For too long, the Endangered Species Act has been weaponised to stop nearly every new project in America, raising costs for families and weakening our competitiveness,’ Burgum said in an official statement. The move sparked sharp criticism from environmental activists. Clay Samford, an attorney at the environmental law firm Earthjustice, called the new rules bad for wildlife and public lands. He cited the case of the ’I’iwi bird in Hawaii, arguing that ranchers now have a greater chance of excluding their land from critical habitat status based on economic grounds. Conversely, libertarian conservation groups like the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) praised the move, arguing that equating threatened species with endangered ones blunted incentives for population recovery. The policy comes amid staff reductions at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Data from the Center for Biological Diversity indicates the agency lost about 18 percent of its staff, including 530 biologists, during the early months of Trump’s second term compared to the final year of the Biden administration. The combination of a reduced workforce and new administrative requirements to evaluate species individually is predicted to worsen the backlog of cases. Currently, more than 500 species are queued for protection status evaluation, including the Aztec Gilia plant and the Clover cactus in New Mexico.